Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 3:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 3:26 p.m.

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a train at the crossing on Forest Street on Tuesday afternoon.

JOHN BYRUM/john.byrum@shj.com

Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said Deborah McBeth, 61, of B.J. Legins Street, died at the scene.

Spartanburg Public Safety Capt. Art Littlejohn said the incident was reported at 2:52 p.m. He said the crossing lights and arms were working properly when McBeth tried to cross the tracks headed north. She was hit by a westbound Norfolk Southern train. Littlejohn said it's possible that McBeth was looking at an eastbound train at the time and did not notice the one headed west that struck her.

Officers roped off the railroad crossing with yellow tape. McBeth's body lie on the gravel beside the tracks a few dozen feet from the crossing.

Both police and friends of McBeth who gathered at the scene said McBeth has been hit several times by cars while walking the streets while drunk.

McBeth had her problems, said her friend, Tarsha Jeter, but she was still a good person. Jeter said many people in that area of town knew her, considered her a friend and looked out for her.

“I would say, ‘McBeth, stay out of the streets,'” Jeter said. “She was a good person. She's going to be missed.”

Ronald Lyles was a longtime friend of McBeth's and said he had seen her Tuesday morning. He said she was likely walking back up North Forest Street from the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen when she was hit by the train.

Lyles, visibly distraught, said he was devastated by her death.

“She was free hearted,” said Lyles, with tears in his eyes. “She was kind. She didn't deserve this.”

The case is under investigation by the Spartanburg Public Safety Department, Norfolk Southern and Spartanburg County Coroner's Office. It is the third train-related fatality in Spartanburg County so far this year.

<p>A Spartanburg woman was killed Tuesday as she tried to cross the railroad tracks on North Forest Street and was hit by a train.</p><p>Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said Deborah McBeth, 61, of B.J. Legins Street, died at the scene.</p><p>Spartanburg Public Safety Capt. Art Littlejohn said the incident was reported at 2:52 p.m. He said the crossing lights and arms were working properly when McBeth tried to cross the tracks headed north. She was hit by a westbound Norfolk Southern train. Littlejohn said it's possible that McBeth was looking at an eastbound train at the time and did not notice the one headed west that struck her.</p><p>Officers roped off the railroad crossing with yellow tape. McBeth's body lie on the gravel beside the tracks a few dozen feet from the crossing.</p><p>Both police and friends of McBeth who gathered at the scene said McBeth has been hit several times by cars while walking the streets while drunk.</p><p>McBeth had her problems, said her friend, Tarsha Jeter, but she was still a good person. Jeter said many people in that area of town knew her, considered her a friend and looked out for her.</p><p>“I would say, 'McBeth, stay out of the streets,'” Jeter said. “She was a good person. She's going to be missed.”</p><p>Ronald Lyles was a longtime friend of McBeth's and said he had seen her Tuesday morning. He said she was likely walking back up North Forest Street from the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen when she was hit by the train.</p><p>Lyles, visibly distraught, said he was devastated by her death.</p><p>“She was free hearted,” said Lyles, with tears in his eyes. “She was kind. She didn't deserve this.”</p><p>The case is under investigation by the Spartanburg Public Safety Department, Norfolk Southern and Spartanburg County Coroner's Office. It is the third train-related fatality in Spartanburg County so far this year.</p>